Roses power to World Cup bronze

England claimed the World Cup bronze medal thanks to victory over South Africa

England bounced back from Saturday’s crushing World Cup semi-final defeat against New Zealand to beat South Africa 58-42 and claim the bronze medal at the Vitality Netball World Cup.

In contrast to Saturday’s slow start against New Zealand, England began quickly and never looked back to record a seventh win of the week, although it is their only defeat from eight games that will haunt them.

Beaten 47-45 by the Silver Ferns for an eighth consecutive semi-final defeat, the Roses lifted spirits to beat South Africa for the second time in the tournament and finish with the bronze medal.

In truth, a third successive World Cup bronze was the minimum requirement this year after the Commonwealth gold last April that had raised hopes of another in Liverpool, this time a first in the World Cup.

But it wasn’t to be as the old netball world order was maintained with Australia and New Zealand, winners or shared winners of all 14 previous tournaments, who will battle it out on Sky Sports Netball from 5pm

South Africa, who will host the World Cup in Cape Town in 2023 when the sport’s showpiece is held in Africa for the first time, settle for fourth – their best showing since defeat in the 1995 final to Australia.

More to follow…..

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